THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the BJP candidates for the assembly elections are to be announced today, it is heard that a surprise candidate will be fielded in Kazhakoottam. BJP sources hinted that a person coming from the congress party will be fielded in the constituency. It is speculated that Sarathchandra Prasad, vice president of KPCC will fight against Kadakampally Surendran.

Dr S S Lal, opposed by local leadership of the Congress is the UDF candidate here. So, the BJP leadership believe that a good percentage of the Congress votes will go to Sarathchandra Prasad. BJP sources said two more dissatisfied Congress leaders will join the BJP after the Congress list is out.

After the central leadership decided not to field V Muraleedharan, who had been campaigning in the constituency, the party decided to field a new person. Though there was a move to field Shobha Surendran in Kazhakoottam, the decision had to be shelved due to strong opposition from the state leadership.

A large group led by Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Ashwanth Narayanan and Karnataka MLA Sunil Kumar Karkale had been camping in Kerala to trap activists from other parties. They offer candidatures and party membership in the party.

They had spoken to former Congress leaders Vijayan Thomas and Pandalam Prathapan who joined the BJP. They are in touch with some leaders of the Left Front, Congress and with the Kerala Congress.

Their move is to bring in as many leaders as possible from other parties to the BJP, as seen in northern states and West Bengal. Some seats will be kept vacant by the BJP for those coming. Indications are that it will be emptied. Recently another Kerala Congress group leader who came with P J Joseph held two round of talks with BJP leadership.

Twice discussions with the leadership have been completed. Talks are in progress with the leaders of Janadhipathya Kerala Congress not in good terms with Antony Raju.

The list submitted by the BJP state unit was approved by the election commission yesterday with some changes. The selection committee met yesterday in the presence of the Prime Minister. Most probably all the candidates will not be announced today.